Tag: chemistry

Hello again everyone! I thought I would start my first “ingredients” posts with the “ABC’s” of skincare ingredients– first up, Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). If you missed the first Beauty Nerd introductory post, make sure you read it here.

First, my disclaimer: Nothing I write in this series is medical advice and I will be writing from the perspective of a consumer interested in understanding how products work and if they are effective. If you have any medical questions, you should talk to your doctor!

What are they?

AHAs are organic compounds that contain a carboxyl group and one hydroxyl group at the alpha position (hence the name, Alpha Hydroxy Acids). Examples of AHAs include glycolic acid and lactic acid (the two most commonly used for cosmetic skincare results), citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid.

So as promised a while ago, I am starting the beginning of a blog series about being a smart consumer, or “beauty nerd,” when it comes to skincare and makeup– focusing on one ingredient or type of product at a time. Before I jump right into the series and start analyzing an ingredient and the products that contain it… I feel like I should cover some basics. If you are a science person, this will probably all be review for you, but if you aren’t then this will be a good place to start. So lets get right into it!